Homeless Man Charged In Burger Theft

November 26, 1996|By Brian Cox. Special to the Tribune.

A homeless man dubbed the "Burger Bandit" was charged with aggravated armed robbery of a McDonald's restaurant after police tracked him down by following the pungent aroma of burgers and fries, police said Monday.

Evanston police charged Mark McMullen, 29, of no known address, with one count of aggravated robbery after he allegedly robbed the McDonald's restaurant at 1117 Howard St. in Evanston on Friday, said Evanston police Lt. Linda Black.

Black said McMullen walked into the restaurant at about 4:30 p.m. Friday and placed a large order. Moments later, McMullen allegedly told a female clerk that he had a gun and demanded that she hand over all her $10 and $20 bills.

When the clerk refused to hand over the money, McMullen allegedly threatened to shoot the clerk then grabbed a bag of fast food that was sitting on the counter and fled the restaurant on foot, police said.

While looking for the suspect a short time later, two Evanston police officers smelled fast food when they entered the lobby of a nearby building under construction at 7534 N. Claremont Ave., Chicago, police said.

The officers found McMullen hiding near a refrigerator, surrounded by several empty burger wrappers, police said.

"What can I say, our officers are real bloodhounds," Black said.

Black said police on Monday afternoon were also preparing to charge McMullen with one additional count of armed robbery in connection with the Nov. 21 robbery of a drugstore at 1029 Howard St., Evanston.